Hinged bezel for clocks



May i2, 1931. w. H. BALZER 1,804,734

HINGED BEZEL FOR CLOCKS Filed-.NOV. 17, 1927 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 12, 1931 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i WERNER H. IBALZER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ARTHUR K. KEMPTON, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK HINGED BEZEL FOR CLOCKS This invention relates to improvements in-hinged bezels yfor the glazed dial covers of clock cases; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel and simple construction of pivoted or hinged bezel in which the hinge structure is concealed so that the continuity of the dial cover frame and its bezel ring is uninterrupted and its neat and attractive appearance unmarred lo by exteriorly projecting and frequently unsightly hinge elements, usually in the form of projecting knuckles.

.This invention therefore has for its principalobject to provide a novel construction of hinge for pivotally connecting a bezel ring with the main or fixed frame of a glazed clock-dial cover, whichA is arranged in such i manner that exteriorly exposed or projecting hinge knuckles are eliminated, and in place thereof a hinge structure is furnished the elements of which are so disposed as to be positioned entirely within the exterior circumference of the bezel ring and behind the latter so as to be Wholly concealed when the same is closed upon the fixed frame, thus greatly enhancing the neat and trim appearance of the clock-dial cover, while nevertheless retaining all the desirable mechanical advantages vand convenience of 3 0 a hinged or pivoted bezel ring.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a yface View of a clock having `a glazed dial cover 'including a hinged bezel ring made according to and embodying the principles of this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Figure 1, but showing the rear part of the clock-case broken away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken on line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure L is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3 but with the bezel ring swung on its hinge connection to open position; Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken on line 5--5 in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a fragmentary face view of the dial cover frame with the bezel ring closed, and Fivure 7 is a similar View with bezel ring open; and Figure 8 is a fragmentary inside face view of the bezel ring alone, and illustrating certain elements of the novel hinge structure of this invention.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 10 indicates a clock-case of any selected design having an opening 11 through which the clock-face or dial of the encased clock-work is exposed. Inserted in the case opening 11 to overlie and surround the marginal portions of the clock-face or dial is the main frame or stationary ring 12 of the dial cover. This main frame or stationary ring 12 may be of any suitable crosssectional shape, but is preferably of inwardly beveled shape as shown, and is preferably so arranged that its inner portion is countersunk in the case opening 11 but withits outer portion projecting outwardly beyond the plane of the front face of the clock-case 10. Integrally formed in connection with said mainframe or stationary ring 12 is an external annular flange 13 adaptedto overlie and abut the exterior marginal portions of the case opening 11. Said flange 13 isl spaced-or stepped back relative to the outo wardly projecting portion of said main frame or stationary ring 12 so as to provide an annular seat 14 to receive portions of a hinged bezel ring as will be subsequently explained. To secure said main frame or stationary ring 12 in desired fixed relation to the clock case 10, fastening screws 15 or other suitable fastening means may be passed through the flange 13 to screw into the body of said clock-case; the heads of said screws being countersunk in llush relation to the outer face of said flange 13.

The reference character 16 indicates va bezel ring having in its interior circuinferential portion a bezel groove 17 to receive and embrace the margins of a cover-glass or crystal 18 by which the clock-dial is enclosed or covered. Said benzel ring 16 may be given any desired ornamental'configuration as to its exposed external face; in the accompanying drawings, however, a simple bevel front face 19 is shown by way of illus tration. lntegrally or otherwise formed in connection with said bezel ring 1G is a rearwardly projecting annular shoulder 20 adapted to seat itself in the seat 111 of lsaid main frame or stationary ring 12, whenthe former occupiesV normal closed relation to` the latter.

The novel hinge connection for pivot-ally relating said bezel ring to said main frame or stationary ring knuckle 21 perforated from end to end and disposed to project' rearwardly from and in the plane of the annular shoulder 2() of saidV bezel ring 16.' The flange 13 ofsaid main frame or stationary ring 12 is provided -with a cut-away'portion or notcliQZ into which extends the perforated end portion of said hinge knuckle 21. The flange 13 is provided witha bore 23 disposed to crosssaid `cutaway portion or notch and aligned with the perforation of said hinge knuckle 21, when the latter is operatively disposed within said cut-away portion or notch 22. The.

outer extremities ofthe said bore 23 will intersect the circumferential periphery of said flange 13 at 'points beyond each yside of said cut-away portion or notch22. Vlhen` the hinge knuckle 21 is `operatively engaged in the cut-away portionor notch 22, so that its perforation is aligned with the bore-23,

a pintle or hinge `pin 24 is inserted through the'bore 23 and perforatehinge knuckle,

thus pivotally connecting the bezel ring and inain frame or stationary ringf 12 -together.-

`When the liingedly connectedfbezel ring and main frame or stationarypring are assembled, and the former is'closedupon the latter, the shoulder 20 of the one will engage v inthe seat'lfl of the other,and since the hinge knuckle 21 is rearwardly projecting from the shoulder 20 and in the plane thereof, it will be obvious that no part lof the novel hinge structure is exposed beyond the external periphery or circumference of the bezel' ring, nor is the smooth peripheral continuity Jofthe latter iny any way interrupted or marred;V In order to assure smooth swinging movement of the bezel ring to open position without `friction or obstruction, the

shoulder 20 adjacent toeach end ofthe hinge' knuckle `2l is inwardly beveled to `provide vclearance spaces 25 extending from the exterior rperipheral edge downwardly andV inwardly to intersect the innercircumferentialface of said shoulder, said beveled' clearance spaces merging withthe interiorperipheral lycoinprises a hinge edge of the shoulder 20. The said beveled clearance spaces 25 permit the free turning of the shoulder 2O around the peripheral edge portions 26 of the vflange 13, and'yet are so disposed as not to disfigure the outer circumferential face of said shoulder 2O of the bezel ring 16. Y

lt will be understood that the ineeting portions of the bezel ring 16 and main frame er stationary ring 12 may be provided, at a point opposite the hinge connection-thereof,

the disclosiireof the drawings shallbe conf sideredfas illustrative and not in aliinitingf tion, l claim l Y 1. A device of the class described,compris-` ing astationary ring having aniexternal an nular ee,

g a bezel ring tof-hold a cover overlie and abut ksaid vrflange of rsaid station- Having thus described my present inven-v` t5 glass,'said bezel ring having a -i'earwardly projecting annular shoulder tolnormally ary ring, a perforatehinge knuckleextend`L f ing rearwardly from andfbeyondsaidy shoul-lder, said flange vof said stationary ringhav# ing 1an indented notch to receive said hinge` knuckle and also'fhaving a bore'alignedy with`r the perforation of said hinge4 -knuckle,rthe

outer lends of` said bore terminating-in the' r circumferential r face of saidilange, apintle- .mounted in said boreand ext-ending through said perforate hinge knuckle, and-thean-g nular 'shouldervof said bezelfy ring ad]acent f each end of said hingeknuckle having^inwardly beveled clearance spaces extending from the exterior periphery thereof downLi wardly to intersect `the interiorfacethereofY 2. A device of the class described,L coin` prising a stationary'ring to boundan opening, said stationary vring having an external f annular liaiigeto overlie a supportingbody', fastening means engagedv through-f* said flange with said body, a bezel ring to holda wardly projecting annular shoulder to overl lie and `abut said flange of said stationary ring, a perforatel hinge knucklel :extending cover' glass', said bezel ring-having a rear# rearwardly freniand beyond saidv shoulder,

said VVKflange, of said stationary ring having an indented notch to receive said hinge knuckle and also having a bore-aligned to intersect'said notch, the outer ends of'said'-V bore terminating in the circuin'ferential"fac'efy of 'said/flange, a pintleiinountedV in said bore and extending through said perforate hinge knuckle, and the annular shoulder of said bezel ring adjacent each end of said hinge knuckle having inwardy beveled clearance spaces extending from the exterior periphery thereof downwardly to intersect the interior face thereof.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of November, 1927.

WERNER H. BALZER. 

